July 6 through Aug. 4, one can find wide-eyed students wandering the University’s expansive campus, maps in hand, tote bags on shoulder, nametags around neck, as New Student Orientation is in full swing.
Herds of new students thirsty to quench the waters of college pour into the roads as they cross the street to savor their first taste of a real college meal at Fountain Dining Hall.
Two days are filled with non-stop tours, information, advising and socializing. The goal of Orientation, according to Tom Stafford, vice chancellor of student affairs, and Roxanna McGraw, director of New Student Orientation, is to prepare future students for the first day of class.
According to Thomas Conway, the dean of undergraduate academic studies, the next goal is to lay out the expectations for students.
High school seniors have new expectations which were not present in high school, transfer students have expectations different from their former institutions, and parents have adjustments to make and want ways to be involved in their child’s education.
McGraw said her measure of success with the new students is fairly simple.
At the end, she said, if students say, “I’ve got my books, all-campus card and I know when the first football game is,” then she’s done her job.
Thomas Conway, points out that Orientation is about transition. It is a transition for new freshmen, transfer students and parents.
“New incoming students have to adjust to being freshmen again and Orientation gives them a chance to start that process,” Conway said.
Stafford said he believes Orientation also gives students a chance to acquaint themselves with the campus and the University’s policies and people.
“Orientation familiarizes students with the physical campus, introduces them to opportunities at N.C. State and important concepts like academic integrity,” Stafford said.
Stafford who is in charge of Parents Orientation, said he has seen orientations change and grow for the better.
“Orientation is very important because it is the new students’ first official contact and exposure to N.C. State,” Stafford said.
When it comes to information, there is a non-stop entourage of meetings, speakers and papers. Students meet with advisers, purchase books, obtain all-campus cards, create schedules and takes two days worth of tours.
Janelle Richardson, an incoming freshman in business management, said she felt confident with all the information thrown at her.
“It is very informative, a very good, slow smooth process. I feel comfortable to come to N.C. State,” Richardson said.
Star Williams, mother of a new student, expressed that she was impressed with everyone who spoke during the college presentations.
“Everything is very organized,” Williams said
Although construction caused temporary confusion, Williams said there is always someone to ask for directions.
Many students find Orientation helpful not only informatively, but also socially.
“Meeting new people and seeing how friendly everyone is makes coming to school more comfortable,” Danielle Miller, an incoming freshman in business management and Spanish, said.
“I’ve seen people I want to get to know. I’m ready to hang out,” Clifford Sandy, an incoming freshman in business management and international studies said.
Orientation offers more specific in-depth information than do general tours of the college prior to applying. This is one reason a number of students attend more than one college’s orientation, according to McGraw.
Although 98 to 99 percent of first-year students will attend Orientation, a small percentage will not enroll in NCSU in the fall, McGraw pointed out.
McGraw said reason for this may be that students may receive a better financial offer, such as a larger scholarship, at another school, they may choose to enter a community college before attending NCSU, or may defer their enrollment for a year due to family or personal reasons.
Thomas Conway mentioned that in the early 90s, NCSU had higher orientation visitation rates, 75 percent, than other universities.
Today, the University’s orientation participation rate, as McGraw mentioned is in the range of 97 to 99 percent.
Conway said Orientation is successful because planning is all year long — starting immediately after the last orientation group in the summer — with those who work on Orientation taking student and parent assessments very seriously.
The difference in an N.C. State Orientation compared to a smaller college’s orientation, Stafford said, are size, timing and priorities.
The incoming class of 4,600 freshmen is the largest the University has ever had.
Because of the large numbers, N.C. State’s Orientation is broken into nine different sessions based upon the specific college.
Stafford points out that when such a large class is admitted, a few of those incoming students will inevitably not enroll.
“We lose a few after orientation and even on the day of move-in,” Stafford said.
Although there are obvious differences in orientations, Stafford said all schools have a common element in their number one priority: completing registration and academic advising.
“Everything we say or do is done in a way that clearly articulates to the students, ‘you’re the most important people on campus and we’re here to provide service to enhance your experience,'” Stafford said.
Students are separated into smaller groups headed by orientation counselors.
“Orientation counselors are our ace in the hole on this,” Conway said in reference to how the counselors aid students and parents.
Orientation Counselor Tiffany Williams, said she feels she must be a good leading example as a representative of the University to new students. Although the purpose of the job may not be for rewards, it is in turn gratifying.
“This job is very rewarding,” Williams, a junior in microbiology, said. “All preparation pays off now.”
